Higher education in the Netherlands is provided by three types of institution.

Government-funded institutions receive funding from the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Science or the Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture and Innovation, and charge their students
government-approved fees. There are 36 higher professional education
institutions and 14 universities, including the Open University.

‘Legal entities providing higher education’ are covered by the
terms of the Higher Education and Research Act but are not funded by the
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. They are free to decide on
their own fees and admissions policy, although students must be in
possession of a HAVO, MBO or VWO certificate. Students at these
institutions are eligible for student support. Like government-funded
institutions, legal entities providing higher education award bachelor’s
and/or master’s degrees for courses that are accredited. A small number
of these institutions (primarily for faith-based higher education) do
receive funding. Many of the provisions of the Higher Education and
Research Act do not apply to legal entities providing higher education.

Private-sector institutions are not covered by the Higher
Education and Research Act. They include foreign universities and
business schools to which Dutch government regulations do not apply.